China's minister of commerce Wang Wentao meets with UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) secretary-general Rebeca Grynspan in Beijing on December 8, 2025. Photo: Screenshot of Chinese Ministry of Commerce's website

China's minister of commerce Wang Wentao on Monday met with UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) secretary-general Rebeca Grynspan in Beijing, with the two sides holding in-depth exchanges of views on the global economic and trade situation and on deepening practical cooperation, according to a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). 

Wang said that in October this year, the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) adopted the Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development, drawing a grand blueprint for China's development over the next five years. 

The document includes a dedicated chapter on expanding high-level opening-up and explicitly pledges to uphold the multilateral trading system, sending a strong signal of sharing opportunities and achieving common development with all countries, said the minister. 

Wang pointed out that at present, unilateralism and protectionism are disrupting global economic development and undermining the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China firmly supports multilateralism and the UN-centered international system, and stands ready to work with all parties, including UNCTAD, to jointly build and safeguard a fair, just, open, inclusive and win-win international economic order, Wang noted.

Wang stressed that the MOFCOM attaches great importance to its cooperative relationship with UNCTAD and is willing to strengthen practical cooperation in various fields around the implementation of the Global Governance Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the contents of the recommendations for the 15th Five-Year Plan. 

China has launched the "Export to China" initiatives to promote exports of quality products and services from more countries, especially developing countries, to the Chinese market. Wang expressed hope that UNCTAD will actively support this effort and jointly help Global South countries enhance trade capacity and share the opportunities of China's huge market.

During the meeting, Grynspan said that China's four major global initiatives are of great significance to upholding the UN-centered international system. Noting that high-tariff policies are currently affecting the stability and social development of vulnerable economies, she commended China for granting zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines to least-developed countries and African nations with which China has diplomatic relations, according to the MOFCOM.

The UNCTAD highly appreciates that China's 15th Five-Year Plan recommendations organically integrate the people-centered development philosophy with high-quality development, said the UN official, adding that the UNCTAD stands ready to strengthen practical cooperation with China in green minerals, trade in services, and capacity-building for "Export to China" initiatives and jointly assist developing countries in accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, per the MOFCOM statement.  

Global Times